pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: temporary


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Lavished

Reading: 1 John 3: 1-3

Verse One: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God”.

Identity is an important thing. At times we are very sure of who we are. We feel confident and we know our purpose in life. So often, for many people, this is wrapped up in earthly things like our job or our position on the team or in the money we have or in the possessions we own. When this is how we define ourselves, then the trials of life rock our world.

Today’s passage opens with a reminder of who we truly are. John writes, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God”. This sums up the core of our true identity. It is because of God’s great love. This is where it starts. It is a rich and lavish love that God wants to pour down on every single person. Not all accept His love. But for those that do, we are called “children of God”. There is a huge difference between knowing that all people are God’s children and actually living as one. When we live as a child of God, we know our true identity.

When we identify as a child of God, life takes on an eternal perspective. Yes, this life will still have its trials and hurts and sufferings, but they are temporary. In addition, as a child we do not walk alone through these valleys either. Our Father walks with us and will even carry us at times. Our Father gives us strength to face any challenge because we do not face it alone and we can draw on His limitless strength. How great is the love indeed!

No matter what life has brought us or will bring us, we can trust in the love that God has for each of us, His dearly loved children. Thanks be to God for His great love!


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Ruling Over All

Reading: Isaiah 40: 21-24

Verse 21: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning”?

Is turning to God your first instinct in all situations? Do you naturally seek out God in times of need or trial? Before anyone else, do you first thank God for the blessings and successes you experience daily? If not, you are like many of us. We are much like the exiles to whom Isaiah writes.

The idea of bringing all things to God is well-supported in scripture. It is found throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is what Paul is thinking when he calls us to pray without ceasing in 1st Thessalonians. For some of us, the reality is we earnestly come to God in prayer when we are getting desperate or when something really amazing happens. We know in our hearts and souls that God can do anything, but we tend not to seek Him first in all things.

Isaiah is writing to a people in exile who are getting back around to God. God is responding with words of comfort as chapter forty opens. In our verses today, Isaiah reminds them of God’s ever present nature. He writes, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning”? It is a way of saying that since God is always here, we should go to God always. The current Babylonian rulers are the exiles’ concern at present, so Isaiah reminds the people that rulers are soon swept away by God too. They come and go as God sees fit. They are temporal. Their power lasts but for a moment in God’s grand scheme.

Rulers are like all other things on this earth: they are temporary and limited. Despite this fact, we often turn first to ourselves and then to other people and things to find help or guidance or relief or a way out. We turn to people with titles and positions, we turn to institutions, we turn to our family and friends. None are inherently evil or are bad choices. They just should not be our first choice. The One who created all is still ruling over all. Our God can still do all things and anything. All else will fade. Only God will remain. May we ever turn to God, He who ever sits “enthroned above the circle of the earth”, ruling over all.


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A Mighty Fortress

In general we live in a very secure world.  For the most part our homes are safe and we have emergency personnel that will respond quickly if we need them.  The writer of today’s psalm did not live this life.  Vulnerability and powerlessness typified the psalmist’s world.  For most of Israel’s existence another, greater power ruled over them.  In times when they ruled themselves, threats from all around were always present.  So the psalmist turns to God as the only source of true strength.  The writer sees God’s steadfast love as the only secure constant.  God is his or her fortress.

How many of us try to build our own fortress?  We build ourselves up walls with all of our degrees, with all of our wealth, with all of our possessions, with all of our positions or titles.  In these things we think we find security.  But all of these things are fleeting.  All are temporary.  Despite our best efforts, loss will come.   It may be a job or a loved one or a home.  In these moments and events we come to realize that we do not really control too much.  One higher is in control.

When we choose to surrender our illusion of being in control, we gain freedom.  When we choose to acknowledge that God alone has the power, we gain liberation.  When we choose to trust His leading, we find peace.  When we choose to surrender our worry and anxiety, we find rest.  As we give ourselves up more and more to God, we find what t he psalmist found.

We find that God is a mighty fortress.  We find great security in His unfailing love, in His steadfast mercy, and in His unending forgiveness.  With God as our stronghold we find rest, peace, joy, contentment, love, and so much more.  The God of the ages is our God in every moment, in every situation, and in every way.

Scripture reference: Psalm 48